Machine and methods for dispensing nutritional supplements and multi-serving cartridge therefor

ABSTRACT

A granulated nutritional supplement dispensing machine extracts single-serving doses from a multi-serving supplements cartridge for delivery as a drinkable solution. A lead serving chamber is pierced so that its powered contents drain into a mixing cup together with a metered quantity of water from an integrated water tank. A vibrator unit assists drainage of the granulated materials from the lead serving chamber. The mixing cup is rotated at high speed to blend the water and supplements into a slurry. The supplements cartridge is indexed after (or before) use so that an unopened serving chamber is presented each time for extracting its supplements. This enables partially-used supplements cartridges to be used in the machine, as is conducive in multiple-user households. The supplements cartridge is configured with read-write data capability to indicate whether or not the contents of each serving chamber have been emptied.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 15/034,316 filed May4, 2016, which is a US National Phase of PCT/US14/64946 filed Nov. 11,2014, which claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No.61/903,978 filed Nov. 14, 2013, the entire disclosures of which arehereby incorporated by reference and relied upon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The invention relates generally to a method and delivery system formixing powder-form dietary supplements and/or pharmaceuticals inmeasured doses with a suitable liquid to be consumed by drinking, and amulti-serving cartridge therefor.

Description of Related Art

A dietary supplement provides a person (or animal) with nutrients thatmay otherwise not normally consume in sufficient quantities. As usedherein, the term dietary supplement and nutritional supplement are usedmore or less interchangeably and are intended to broadly define any andall types of vitamins, minerals, fibers, fatty acids, proteins, aminoacids, herbal medicines, bodybuilding supplements, pharmaceuticals,therapeutics, medicines, drugs, treatments and any other like substancethat is ingested for health purposes. It has been reported that morethan half of the U.S. adult population regularly consumenon-pharmaceutical dietary supplements, with the most common type beingmulti-vitamins. When considering also medicinal forms of dietarysupplements, the number is substantially higher.

The traditional market for the manufacture and intake of dietarysupplements are most often produced in a tablet or capsule form. Pillsand capsules are difficult for many people to swallow and/or digest.Manufacturing of such dietary supplements in pill/tablet form requiresthe use of fillers and/or binding agents in order to produce a tabletthat is solid and has an acceptable shelf life. Manufactured tablets orcapsules are often large which tends to limit the amount of activeingredient content. Many consumers will avoid or are unable to takelarge pills, which leaves the consumer with few alternatives.

The dietary supplement industry has tried to address this issue byproviding rapidly dissolving tablets and chewable tablets. Dietarysupplements in dissolving tablet or chewable form have many of the samenegative attributes of capsules and tablets, such as they typicallycontain fillers, sugars or binding agents which limit the amount ofactive ingredient content. The excessive use of fillers and bindingagents resists digestion in the human (or animal) body; numerous studieshave concluded that pill-form vitamins with even moderate amounts offillers and/or binding agents can pass through the human digestivesystem with only a fraction of the active ingredients having beenabsorbed in the body. Gel-type tablets have been developed to helpaddress the absorption issues, but tend to be even larger and moredifficult to swallow especially for those who suffer with esophagealdysphagia.

Swallowing large pills, and even small pills for some, are difficult formany people. Those who are elderly, those with throat conditions,children, and others experience the most discomfort ingestingpill/tablet form dietary supplements. And in addition to humans, manyconscientious pet owners would like to provide dietary supplements totheir dog or cat or horse or other valued animal. Some pets will resisttaking a dietary supplement in pill-form, regardless of pill size. Andsome animals have a more rapid digestive through-put than humans, makingpills with substantial amounts of fillers and binding agents even lesseffective by passing through the animal's body before a sufficient loadof the active ingredients having been absorbed.

Another issue with prior art dietary supplements relates to correctdosing. As many dietary supplements are sold “over-the-counter”, manyconsumers will form a subconscious understanding that the dietarysupplements do not need to be taken with the same high level of care asthey might otherwise give to prescription medicines. As an effect ofthis subconscious belief, the average consumer may not be as concernedabout missing a daily dose, or perhaps at the other extreme of takingtwo doses when only one is recommended. For example, a busy ordistracted person might not recall if they had taken their vitamin pillthat day. This person might think “No big deal, I will take onetomorrow”. Or they might think, “No big deal, I will take another pilljust to be safe”. In both cases, the person runs the risk of eitherover-dosing or under-dosing their intake of the dietary supplement. Ofcourse, pills boxes and the like have been developed to help organizepill consumption for people, but such are normally used for prescriptionmedicines only and require a high degree of discipline to use regularly.

There is therefore a need in the art for an improved dietary supplementsystem that reduces the use of fillers and binding agents, and thatreduces the likelihood of over-dosing and under-dosing, and that iseasily swallowed, and that is rapidly digested.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of this invention, a granulated nutritionalsupplement dispensing machine is provided. The machine has a housing inwhich is proved a cartridge bay. A supplement extraction mechanism isassociated with the cartridge bay. A water tank is disposed in thehousing and configured to hold water at a water level. The water tankhas an outlet. A conduit extends from the outlet to terminate at an exitend. A flow control valve is operatively associated with the conduit,and can be selectively actuated between open and closed positions toregulate the flow of water from the exit end of the conduit. A fluidlevel monitor is operatively associated with the water tank formeasuring the water level in the water tank. A computer control systemoperatively interconnects the fluid level monitor and the flow controlvalve, and includes a non-transitory computer readable medium coded withinstructions and executed by a processor to manipulate the flow controlvalve between its open and closed positions in direct response to themeasured water level in the water tank. The computer control systemenables a precise delivery of liquid to be mixed with a granulated orpowdered form of nutritional supplement regardless of the water level inthe tank.

According to a second aspect of this invention, the granulatednutritional supplement dispensing machine includes a generally annularsupplements cartridge centered about a central axis. A housing of themachine includes a cartridge bay configured to receive the cartridge forrotation about the central axis. A supplement extraction mechanism isassociated with the cartridge bay. The central axis is oriented at anacute angle relative to horizontal. By supporting the supplementscartridge at an angle within the housing, a user can more convenientlyinteract with the machine. Furthermore, in some embodiments thesupplements cartridge is angled to better position a lead servingchamber thereof to be emptied into the mixing cup.

According to a third aspect of this invention, the granulatednutritional supplement dispensing machine includes a housing having acartridge bay. A supplement extraction mechanism is associated with thecartridge bay, and there is also a cup bay formed in the housing. Thecup bay is disposed below the cartridge bay, and a mixing cup isconfigured to rest in the cup bay. A cup drive system is disposed in thecup bay of the housing. The cup drive system includes a rotary platenthat is rotatable about a mixing axis. The rotary platen is inclinedbackwardly into the cup bay with the mixing axis skewed at an acuterearward angle relative to horizontal. By setting the rotary platen at arearwardly inclined angle, the mixing cup is angled away from the userto protect the user from spillage during a rotary mix cycle.Furthermore, the angled rotational configuration of the mixing cupenhances the process of mixing water and powdered nutritionalsupplements into solution.

According to a fourth aspect of this invention, the granulatednutritional supplement dispensing machine includes a generally annularsupplements cartridge that is centered about a central axis. Thesupplements cartridge includes a plurality of serving chambers. A volumeof granulated nutritional supplement is disposed in each servingchamber. A housing for the machine includes a cartridge bay that isconfigured to receive the supplements cartridge for rotation about itscentral axis. A supplement extraction mechanism is associated with thecartridge bay, and is operative to open the serving chambersone-at-a-time and then empty the granulated nutritional supplementcontents therefrom. A cartridge drive mechanism rotates the supplementscartridge about the central axis within the cartridge bay. And acomputer control system is operatively connected to the cartridge drivemechanism. The computer control system includes a non-transitorycomputer readable medium coded with instructions and executed by aprocessor to rotationally index the supplements cartridge in thecartridge bay until an unopened serving chamber is located directlyadjacent the supplement extraction mechanism. Accordingly, the computercontrol system, working through the cartridge drive mechanism, alignsthe supplements cartridge so than an available, i.e., unopened, servingchamber is positioned in a lead location so that the volume ofgranulated nutritional supplement contained in the unopened or leadserving chamber can be emptied by the supplement extraction mechanism.Through this feature, a user can install a partially-used supplementscartridge into the cartridge bay of the machine. The computer controlsystem causes the cartridge drive mechanism to rotationally index thesupplements cartridge so than an unused serving chamber is placed in alead position ready to be opened by the supplement extraction mechanism.

According to a fifth aspect of this invention, a multi-serving cartridgeassembly for granulated nutritional supplements is provided. Thecartridge assembly comprises a generally annular frame centered about acentral axis. The frame includes a plurality of serving chambers. Avolume of granulated nutritional supplement (as broadly defined herein)is sealed in each serving chamber. Furthermore, each serving chamberincludes a fracturable element that is configured to be forcefullyruptured in order to extract the granulated nutritional supplementtherefrom. The supplements cartridge is provided with a plurality ofmarker zones spaced apart from the serving chambers. One marker zone isassociated with each serving chamber. The marker zones are configured tobe physically altered or mutilated concurrently with the forcefulrupturing of the fracturable element. The marker zones enable thesupplements cartridge with a practical form of read-write datacapability, in that the condition—altered vs. unaltered—of the markerzone can be used to indicate whether or not the contents of each servingchamber have been emptied. Once a serving chamber has been emptied, itis no longer available for use even though other serving chambers remainavailable for use. By spacing the marker zones a distance from theirrespective serving chambers, the exercise of assessing which servingchambers have been used and which remain available for use can beconducted in a remote region that is less susceptible to residual dustthat might be expelled from empty serving chambers. As some types ofautomated devices for assessing the condition of the marker zones couldbe sensitive to residual dust from granulated nutritional supplements,this invention provides a more robust cartridge assembly.

According to a sixth aspect of this invention, a method for dispensingnutritional supplements from a rotary cartridge is provided. Asupplements cartridge is supported in the cartridge bay of a dispensingmachine for rotation. The supplements cartridge has a plurality ofsealed serving chambers. A volume of granulated nutritional supplementis stored in each serving chamber. The serving chambers each include afracturable element that is configured to be forcefully ruptured inorder to open it and then remove the contents sealed inside. As thesupplements cartridge is rotated in the cartridge bay, the supplementscartridge is initially surveyed to determine the number and/or locationof previously un-ruptured, i.e., unopened, serving chambers in theplurality of serving chambers.

According to a seventh aspect of this invention, a method for filling amulti-serving supplements cartridge with granulated nutritionalsupplements is provided. The method includes the step of providing agenerally annual supplements cartridge having a central axis. Thesupplements cartridge includes a plurality of sealed serving chambersarranged in an annular array about the central axis. Each servingchamber has a radial centerline that intersects the central axis. Alocator feature is formed into the supplements cartridge in relation tothe respective centerline of one of the serving chambers. As part of thefilling operation, the supplements cartridge is loaded into a fillingstation, where its locator feature is registered with a correspondingmember of the filling station. Then each serving chamber is filled witha volume of the granulated nutritional supplement. The serving chambersare covered with a punctureable membrane, upon which at least onestarter queue indicia has been fixed or applied. The starter queueindicia is carefully aligned relative to the alignment pin. The starterqueue provides, in effect, a positioning tool for aligning a servingchamber with an automated opening/dispensing device. By aligning thestarted queue to the centerline of one serving chamber, the automatedopening/dispensing device will be lined-up to make a successful,on-target approach. This starter queue feature may, in some embodiments,be particularly useful for first time use of a new, i.e., previouslyunopened, supplements cartridge.

The present invention overcomes many of the inadequacies in the priorart by providing methods and delivery systems for mixing powder-formdietary supplements (as broadly defined herein) in measured doses with asuitable liquid, e.g., water, to be consumed by drinking, as well as animproved multi-serving cartridge and methods for filling a multi-servingcartridge. The various forms and expressions of the present inventionyield an improved dietary supplement system that reduces the use offillers and binding agents commonly found in pill-form systems, reducesthe likelihood of user over-dosing and under-dosing, that can be easilyswallowed, and whose nutritional supplements are rapidly digested and/orabsorbed by the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome more readily appreciated when considered in connection with thefollowing detailed description and appended drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machine and methods for dispensingnutritional supplements according to one exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view as in FIG. 1 but with a portion of theouter housing removed to reveal internal components of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-section taken generally along lines 3-3of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the area indicated at 4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view as in FIG. 4 showing subsequent moment in time when thelance and spur features of the supplement extraction mechanism have beenactuated so as to open a lead serving chamber in the supplementscartridge;

FIG. 6 is a view as in FIG. 5 showing a still further subsequent momentin time when the lance and spur features of the supplement extractionmechanism have been retracted to their initial starting position, withgranulated nutritional supplements draining from the lead servingchamber and a vibrator energized to impart mechanical vibrations to thelead serving chamber through a buttress;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view as in FIG. 3 but showing a stillfurther moment in time when water from a water tank is directed into amixing cup to be mixed with the granulated nutritional supplementsdrained from the lead serving chamber;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view in cross-section showing the mixing cupdisposed on a rearwardly inclined rotary platen for rotation so as tomix the granulated nutritional supplements and water into a drinkableslurry;

FIG. 9 is another cross-sectional view of the mixing cup and the rotaryplaten feature illustrating an optional magnetic coupling featureinteractive therebetween;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary view of the cartridge bay showing a supplementscartridge disposed therein, the supplements cartridge being partiallybroken away to depict first and second optical sensors disposedthereunder which are effective to scan for punctured marker zones andbinary code indicia, respectively;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a supplements cartridge according toone embodiment of the invention, and illustrating the membrane partiallypeeled away to expose the annular arrays of serving chambers andassociated marker cavities;

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of an unused exemplary supplements cartridgeshowing the membrane without any puncture marks;

FIG. 13 is a view as in FIG. 12 but where the exemplary supplementscartridge has previously had six serving chambers opened and theirassociated marker cavities ruptured;

FIG. 14 is an exploded, cross-sectional view of a supplements cartridgedisposed in a filling station in which the membrane is aligned so that astarter queue indicia (visible in FIGS. 12 and 13) can be properlyaligned to one of the serving chambers;

FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating by way of example the change incapacitance reading for the fluid level monitor as a function of waterlevel in the water tank and the corresponding effects on water flowrate;

FIG. 16 is a simplified flow diagram describing the operational methodof the invention according to one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 16A is a view of an information display screen/user interface as itmight appears at location 16A in the flow diagram of FIG. 16;

FIG. 16B is a view of the information display screen/user interface asit might appears at location 16B in the flow diagram of FIG. 16;

FIG. 16C is a view of the information display screen/user interface asit might appears at location 16C in the flow diagram of FIG. 16;

FIG. 16D is a view of the information display screen/user interface asit might appears at location 16D in the flow diagram of FIG. 16;

FIG. 17 is a continuation of the simplified flow diagram of FIG. 16extending therefrom at the common pentagonal indicator;

FIG. 17A is a view of the information display screen/user interface asit might appears at location 17A in the flow diagram of FIG. 17;

FIG. 17B is a view of the information display screen/user interface asit might appears at location 17B in the flow diagram of FIG. 17;

FIG. 17C is a view of the information display screen/user interface asit might appears at location 17C in the flow diagram of FIG. 17;

FIG. 18 is a simplified flow diagram describing a “Lid Open” sub-routineaccording to one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 18A is a view of the information display screen/user interface asit might appears at location 18A in the flow diagram of FIG. 18;

FIG. 19 is a simplified flow diagram describing a “Clean Process”sub-routine prompted by a self-diagnostic exercise according to oneexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 19A is a view of the information display screen/user interface asit might appears at location 19A in the flow diagram of FIG. 19;

FIG. 20 is a simplified flow diagram describing a “Clean Process”sub-routine prompted by the user according to one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 21 is a simplified flow diagram describing a “Dispense Process”sub-routine according to one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a simplified flow diagram describing a “Low Water WarningProcess” sub-routine according to one exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 22A is a view of the information display screen/user interface asit might appears at location 22A in the flow diagram of FIG. 22;

FIG. 23 is a simplified flow diagram describing a “Low Water ErrorProcess” sub-routine according to one exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 23A is a view of the information display screen/user interface asit might appears at location 23A in the flow diagram of FIG. 23.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the figures, wherein like numerals indicate like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, a granulatednutritional supplement and/or pharmaceutical dispensing machine isgenerally shown at 30. The dispensing machine 30 may take many differentforms, but is illustrated throughout the figures as an exemplarycounter-top appliance. The dispensing machine 30 includes a housing 32,which again can take many different shapes and forms. The housing 32shown in FIG. 1 is sleek and provides a protective enclosure for manyinternal components that will be described in the following paragraphs.The housing 32 may be considered to include a top 34 and a bottom 36 anda front 38 and a back 40 and left/right sides 42. In the depictedexample, the bottom 36 is configured to rest upon a horizontal supportsurface, such as a table or counter. In alternative examples, thedispensing machine 30 could be attached to a wall or door, or suspendedunderneath some kind of supporting structure like a shelf or a wallcabinet, or built into another appliance like a refrigerator or thelike. Many other options are available to house the dispensing machine30 for convenient access by a user.

The housing 32 includes a loading door 44 which, in the illustratedexamples, is located on the top 34 of the unit adjacent the front 38maximum ease of access. The loading door 44 is preferably transparent,or at least partially transparent, so that what lies underneath isvisible from a distance. The loading door 44 may be hingedly connectedto the housing top 34, or attached by sliding mechanism or even omittedaltogether. In the illustrated embodiment, the hinge mechanism issomewhat configured like that of an automobile truck lid, i.e., withU-shaped hinge arms (visible in FIG. 2), to permit full unobstructedaccess underneath. A cartridge bay 46 is formed in the housing 32 belowthe loading door 44. The cartridge bay 46 is perhaps best shown in FIG.2 comprising a generally circular cavity or recesses area below thehousing top 34. Of course, in other designs, the cartridge bay 46 may belocated in some other part of the housing 32 or disposed above thehousing top 34 or exposed in front of housing front 38. The cartridgebay 46 is centered about a drive axis A. That is, an imaginary driveaxis A extending centrally though the cartridge bay 46, the significanceof which will be described subsequently.

Returning again to FIG. 1, the housing top 34 is shown including a tanklid 48. The tank lid 48 is, like the loading door 4, hinged to thehousing top 34 about a transversely extending pivot axis. The tank lid48 is located proximate the back 40 of the housing 32 and arranged toopen from the rear. A water tank, generally indicated at 50, is disposedin the housing 32 below the tank lid 48 and configured to hold water ata water level 52. The water level 52, i.e., the upper surface of waterthat is contained within the water tank 50, is depicted in FIGS. 7 and15. In alternative embodiments of this invention, not shown, the watertank 50 can be omitted when a direct supply of water is routed into thehousing 32 via a suitable supply line. Additional details about thewater tank 50 will be described below.

The housing top 34 further includes a graphic display screen 54. Thedisplay screen 54 may be of any suitable type including, but not limitedto, an LCD, LED or OLED system with or without touch-screenfunctionality. The display screen 54 communicates with the userconcerning operational status and fault conditions of the dispensingmachine 30. Examples of various contemplated display screen 54communications are provided in FIGS. 16A-D, 17A-C, 18A, 19A, 22A and23A, and will be described in substantial detail further below.

A cup bay 56 is also formed in the housing 32. The cup bay 56 ispreferably disposed directly below the cartridge bay 46, for easy accessalong the housing front 38. The housing 32 may also include an optionalstorage bay 58 disposed, in the illustrated example, below or underneaththe water tank 50. The storage bay 58 may be fitted with a plurality ofstorage shelves 60 for storing certain items as will be describedfurther below. The storage shelves are best shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 7.The storage bay 58 may be enclosed by a storage door 62 as shown inFIG. 1. The storage door 62 in the illustrated embodiment is hingedabout a vertical axis and moveable between open and closed positionslike a cupboard door to enclose contents stored on the storage shelves60 in the storage bay 58. A notch may be provided in the housing side 42as clearance for a person's thumb to easily catch and flip open theouter swinging edge of the storage door 62.

The dispensing machine 30 is designed to accept a supplements cartridge,generally indicated at 64 throughout the figures, in the cartridge bay46. The supplements cartridge 64 contains a plurality of doses of anutritional supplement S (FIG. 4), wherein the nutritional supplement Smay be of any type and for any purpose that is ingested or applied to aperson or animal or other living thing for health purposes, includingbut not limited to granulated pharmaceutical compounds. Most commonly,the dispensing machine 30 is used to extract one dose from thesupplements cartridge 64 each day by each user. However, depending onthe specific nutritional supplement S contained in the supplementscartridge 64, more or less than one dose may be indicated each day orother time interval. In the example of a multi-vitamin type ofnutritional supplement where the user is a nominally healthy adult manor woman, the recommended dosage may be one dose extracted from thesupplements cartridge 64 each day. In the example of a body-buildingtype of nutritional supplement where the user is a competitive athlete,the recommended dosage may be multiple doses extracted from thesupplements cartridge 64 each day. The supplements cartridge 64 may takeany of various forms suitable to hold and dispense individual doses of agiven granular or powder nutritional supplement, including the form of astrip, of a drum, of a matrix, of a blister pack, of a loose containeror hopper, or the like. In the portrayed examples, however, thesupplements cartridge 64 takes a rotary form, having a disk-shaped frame66 centered about a central axis B. The supplements cartridge 64 isconfigured to rest in the cartridge bay 46 of the housing 32 with itscentral axis B aligned with the drive axis A. That is, when theexemplary rotary style supplements cartridge 64 is placed into thedispensing machine 30, its central axis B lines up with the drive axis Aas perhaps best shown in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 10-13 best illustrate the exemplary rotary style supplementscartridge 64 in one preferred configuration, but by no means the onlypossible configuration. Again, it is to be emphasized that thesupplements cartridge 64 could be reconfigured in any of severalnon-rotary styles, including but not limited to as a strip, a matrix, ablister pack, a loose container or hopper, or such. In the preferredrotary configuration, however, the frame 66 of the supplements cartridge64 is a generally flat or sheet-like annular member having an outerperipheral flange 68 about its exterior and an interior hole 70 centeredabout the central axis B. The body of the frame 66 between its outerperipheral flange 68 and interior hole 70 can be beneficially consideredaccording to it several annular bands or regions. An outermost annularregion 72 occupies the band closest to or adjacent the peripheral flange68. Like its outer bordering peripheral flange 68, the outermost annularregion 72 is also centered about the central axis B. An innermostannular region 74 occupies the band closest to or adjacent the adjacentthe interior hole 70, and is also centered about the central axis B. Thebody of the frame 66 further includes an intermediate annular region 76that is disposed between the outermost 72 and the innermost 74 annualregions.

A plurality of chamber openings 78 are arranged in the outermost annularregion 72 of the frame 66. That is to say, in the annular band or regionof the frame that is proximate to the outer peripheral flange 68, anarray of chamber openings 78 are placed or formed. The chamber openings78 are arranged, preferably, in equal radial and circumferentialincrements about the central axis B within the outermost annular region72. In other words, the chamber openings may be neatly set in a circularpattern around the frame 66 within its outermost annular region 72. Theexact number of chamber openings 78 may vary depending on the nature ofnutritional supplement S to be dispensed, intended application, andother factors. In one contemplated embodiment, the number of chamberopenings 78 will be selected as a whole number multiple of an overallcoverage period for the supplements cartridge 64. That is, the coverageperiod is the period of time the supplements cartridge can be used by auser to deliver the recommended number of doses. For examples, thecoverage period for a given supplements cartridge 64 could be one week,two weeks, four weeks or one month. Other coverage periods are certainlypossible. In the example of a one month coverage period where onedispensed dose per day is recommended, the number of chamber openings 78could be selected at thirty or thirty-one. Alternatively, if two dosesper day are recommended and the coverage period is two weeks, thesupplements cartridge 64 may be configured with twenty-eight (two timesfourteen) chamber openings 78. In yet another example, if three dosesper day are recommended and the coverage period is one week, thesupplements cartridge 64 may be configured with twenty-one (three timesseven) chamber openings 78. While a wide range of the number of chamberopenings 78 is possible, in the preferred embodiments the number ofchamber openings 78 will be between twenty-eight and thirty-one.

As best shown in FIGS. 11-13, each chamber opening 78 has a radiallywidening, i.e., wedge, shape to maximize use of the outermost annularregion 72 into which they are placed. The radially widening orwedge-like shape is narrowest adjacent the intermediate annular region76 and widest adjacent the peripheral flange 68. Sidewalls 80 surroundeach chamber opening 78 and extending generally perpendicularly from theframe 66. The sidewalls 80 for each respective chamber opening 78 arecovered by a closed end 82 to form a serving chamber 84 behind eachchamber opening 78. The dry granulated or powdered nutritionalsupplement S is disposed in each serving chamber 84, and typicallycomprises one measured dose. Therefore, the number of serving chambers84 in the supplements cartridge 64 corresponds to the number of doses orservings that supplements cartridge 64 is able to deliver. For example,thirty-one doses can be extracted from a supplements cartridge 64 thathas thirty-one serving chambers 84. Twenty-eight doses can be extractedfrom a supplements cartridge 64 that has twenty-eight serving chambers84. And so forth. In the preferred embodiment, a generally equal volumeand composition of granulated nutritional supplement S is disposed ineach serving chamber 84. However, it is contemplated that in someapplications it may be desirable to place an unequal volume and/orcomposition of nutritional supplement S in the serving chambers 84. Asone example of the latter statement, consider a situation where one doseper day is recommended of three separate nutritional supplements S. Asupplements cartridge 64 may be fashioned in which its coverage periodis one week and it is configured with twenty-one serving chambers 84. Inthis case, every third serving chamber 84 can be filled with the firstnutritional supplement, the next adjacent serving chambers 84 filledwith the second nutritional supplement, and the remaining servingchambers 84 filled with the third nutritional supplement. Once dailyover the course of one week, the user extracts nutrition supplementsfrom three sequential serving chambers 84 and thereby receives one doseper day of the three separate nutritional supplements S. In anotherexample, there may be cases where a nutritional supplement is a blend ofseveral components, and certain specific components to not mix well withother specific components. In these instances, a single dose comprisesthe combination of the two non-mixing agents. It may be desired to placethe non-mixable components in separate (usually adjacent) servingchambers 84 to be extracted and mixed only at a moment just prior toconsumption.

Referring still to FIGS. 11-13, each serving chamber 84 is preferablyassociated with a marker zone 86. If the supplements cartridge 64 isconfigured with thirty serving chambers 84, then there are preferablyalso thirty marker zones 86. The ratio is preferably 1:1; one markerzone 86 for each serving chamber 84 regardless of the number of servingchambers 84. The marker zones 86 may take any suitable form, with somealternative examples given below. In the illustrated embodiment,however, the marker zones 86 are located exclusively in the intermediateannular region 76. Like the chamber openings 78, the marker zones 86 arealso preferably arranged in equal radial and circumferential incrementsabout the central axis B within the intermediate annular region 76. Andalso likewise, the plurality of marker zones 86 correspond in number tothe plurality of chamber openings 78, with each marker zone 86 beingradially aligned with a respective one of the chamber openings 78. Eachmarker zone 86 is defined by a marker cavity, which is located directlyis behind each marker zone 86 in the form of a well of cup-likeformation. The marker zones 86 are preferably spaced apart from theserving chambers 84 for reasons that will be more fully explained below.Also as will be described more fully below, the marker zones 86 areconfigured to be physically altered or even mutilated as a means ofkeeping track of which serving chambers 84 have been opened and whichremain full of un-extracted nutritional supplement.

Each serving chamber 84 is provided with a fracturable element of somekind that is configured to be forcefully ruptured in order to extractthe volume of granulated nutritional supplement S contained therein. Itis contemplated that the fracturable element could take any of variousforms, including a stress-concentrating breakage line in the sidewalls80 of each serving chamber 84, a tear-open paper section, or perhaps apeel-away seal covering each chamber opening 78. Many otherpossibilities exist. In the illustrated examples, the fracturableelement comprises a punctureable membrane 88 that is disposed insurface-to-surface relationship over the flat face of the frame 66 sothat the chamber openings 78 and the marker zones 86 are fully covered.An adhesive (not shown) can be applied to the frame 66 to create ahermetic seal for each serving chamber 84. Nutritional supplements Sstored in each serving chamber 84 will be safely (i.e., medically)sealed by the glued-on membrane 88 so that the trapped supplementsremain clean and sterile with a long shelf life. The membrane 88preferably has an inner hole aligned with the interior hole 70 of theframe 66.

The membrane 88 is fractured over a given chamber opening 78 to extractthe nutritional supplements S from the underlying serving chamber 84.Concurrently therewith, the membrane 88 is also ruptured over thecorresponding marker zone 86 to indicate that its associated servingchamber 84 has been opened. By “concurrently,” it is meant to broadlydefine a sequence of events that happened generally close in time oreven simultaneously. For example, the membrane 88 may be ruptured over aparticular serving chamber 84 and then shortly thereafter the membrane88 over the corresponding marker zone 86 is ruptured. Or, the membrane88 over a marker zone 86 could be punctured and shortly thereafter theassociated serving chamber 84 is opened. Or, the membrane 88 coveringthe serving chamber 84 could be ruptured simultaneously with thecorresponding marker zone 86 being punched through. In this manner, themarker zones 86 are configured to be physically altered by puncturingthe membrane 88 covering into the respective marker cavitiesconcurrently with the associated serving chambers 84. The membrane 88may comprise a foil-like material, a plastic material, a paper-basedmaterial, or any other suitable composition. Most preferably, themembrane 88 has an outer reflective surface or other reflectiveproperties capable of reflecting a beam of light (within a selectedrange of wavelengths along the light spectrum). White and silver are twogood color choices for the outer reflective surface of the membrane 88.FIG. 12 shows the membrane 88 of an unused supplements cartridge 64.Serving chambers 84 and marker zones 86 below the membrane 88 areindicated by hidden lines. FIG. 13 shows the same supplements cartridge64 as in FIG. 12, but after six doses have been extracted. Inparticular, the six contiguous serving chambers 84 between the sixo'clock and eight o'clock positions have been opened as will be apparentby the corresponding breaches in the membrane 88 through which thepowdered nutritional supplements S have been extracted. Marker zones 86associated with each of the six opened serving chambers 84 are alsoshown as having been punctured. Hence, it will be seen by comparison ofFIGS. 12 and 13 that the membrane 88 is ruptured both over a chamberopening 78 and over its corresponding marker zone 86 to indicate thatthe associated serving chamber 84 has been opened.

In alternative contemplated configurations, some other action altogethermay be taken to identify a used marker zone 86. This may include asimple ink dabbing on the membrane 88, a nibble or bite of frame 66material removed from the peripheral flange 68, or any other markingaction that fulfills the objective of keeping track of which servingchambers 84 have been opened and which remain full of un-extractednutritional supplement. And preferably, the marker zones 86 are spacedapart from the serving chambers 84, however in some contemplatedembodiments the marker zones could be integrated with the fracturableelement of the serving chambers 84 so that the serving chamber 84 per seis used to identify whether it has been previously opened or not.

Optionally, the supplements cartridge 64 may include binary code indicia90 imprinted on, or otherwise appearing on, the membrane 88. Binary codeindicia 90, in the form of bar codes in the illustrated examples, areplaced so as to reside within the innermost annular region 74 of theframe 66, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The binary code indicia 90, whenused, are preferably machine-readable and associated with a look-uptable or other reference data that may be used to identify importantdetails about the supplements cartridge 64, including its coverageperiod, recommended dosing, intended uses, mixing instructions, etc. Atleast one starter queue indicia appears on the membrane 88, or isotherwise associated with the supplements cartridge 64, to provide areference for the dispensing machine 30 to accurately open a firstserving chamber 84 in a brand new, previously unused supplementscartridge 64. That is, without any previously opened serving chambers84, the starter queue indicia guides the dispensing machine 30 to alignwith one of the serving chambers 84 that will be first opened. Thestarter queue indicia shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 is integrated with thebinary code indicia 90, such that the placement of the bar code markingswill allow the dispensing machine 30 to radially align itself with aselect one of the serving chambers 84. In alternative embodiments, notshown, the starter queue indicia could comprise a machine-readablemarking disposed on the membrane 88 adjacent the peripheral flange 68 orin some other location of the supplements cartridge 64.

Still considering the supplements cartridge 64, a spline cup 92 may beaffixed to the frame 66, generally centered over the interior hole 70.The spline cup 92 includes a plurality of axially extending femalesplines, as shown in FIG. 11. The female splines in the spline cup 92are thus accessible thought the interior hole 70. An outer surface ofthe spline cup 92 is preferably configured as a graspable handle. See,for examples, FIGS. 1 and 10 where the outer surface of the spline cup92 is visible as a knob-like element that can be easily grasped with thehuman hand to insert and remove the supplements cartridge 64 into/out ofthe cartridge bay 46.

A cartridge drive mechanism, generally indicated at 94, is disposed inthe housing 32 for rotating the supplements cartridge 64 about itscentral axis B within the cartridge bay 46. The cartridge drivemechanism 94 can be manually operated or motor-driven. In theillustrated embodiment, the cartridge drive mechanism 94 is motor-drivenby at least one cartridge motor, in the form of a stepper-motor, asperhaps best shown in FIG. 2. A rotary output shaft 96 is operativelycoupled to the electric motor, and extends into the cartridge bay 46 forpower-driven rotation about the drive axis A. The rotary output shaft isshown in FIG. 2, as well as in FIGS. 3, 4 and 7. Preferably, the driveaxis A and the output shaft 96 are oriented at a forward-tilted anglerelative to horizontal. This forward tilt enables a user to moreconveniently interact with the dispensing machine 30, and in particularto easily insert and remove a supplements cartridge 64 from thecartridge bay 46. The forward-tipped condition of the output shaft 96holds the supplements cartridge 64 at a corresponding angle so that itcan be conveniently observed through a transparent loading door 44, asis the case in FIG. 2. Furthermore, by supporting the supplementscartridge 64 at a forward slanting angle, a lead serving chamber 84 willbe better positioned to be emptied as will be described in greaterdetail subsequently.

The output shaft 96 is preferably configured with a drive coupling thatoperatively engages with the female splines in the spline cup 92 of thesupplements cartridge 64. Thus, when a supplements cartridge 64 isplaced in the cartridge bay 46 as shown for examples in FIGS. 1 and 2-7,male splines on the output shaft 96 mesh or mate with the female splinesof the spline cup 92 so that power-driven rotation of the output shaft96 is transferred to the supplements cartridge 64. Of course, otherpower transmission arrangements are possible, including for examplewhere a free-wheeling bearing is stationed along the drive axis A and atangential power drive wheel interacts with the peripheral flange 68 orperhaps a tangential cog-wheel interacts with the sidewalls 80 of theserving chambers 84. Many alternative drive configurations are certainlypossible, with the illustrated embodiment providing but one example. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the drive coupling is provided with anannular shelf 98 that supports the supplements cartridge 64 fromunderneath. Perhaps best shown in the enlarged views of FIGS. 4-6, theannular shelf 98 is a protruding flange-like feature below the malesplines of the output shaft 96. The frame 66 of the supplementscartridge 64 rests on the annular shelf 98 so that the covering membrane88 rides just above the floor of the cartridge bay 46. In this manner,the supplements cartridge 64 might appear to hover above the floor ofthe cartridge bay 46. The annular shelf 98 engages the frame 66 aboutthe periphery of the interior hole 70, while the intermeshing splinescenter the central axis B of the supplements cartridge 64 with the driveaxis A of the output shaft 96.

Turning now to FIGS. 2 and 10, the dispensing machine 30 may include afirst optical sensor 100. The first optical sensor 100 may be of anysuitable commercial type including, for example, a self-containedphotoelectric sensor of the retro-reflective variety having integratedtransmitter and receiver elements. Generally stated, the transmittergenerates a light beam that is reflected back to the receiver within afirst sensor field of view. A field of view, also known as a field ofvision, may be generally understood as a solid angle through which thereceiver element, i.e., of the first optical sensor 100 in this case, issensitive to a reflected light beam (in the wavelength range ofinterest). An object or condition is sensed by the first optical sensor100 when the transmitted light beam is interrupted and fails to reachits receiver element. As but one example, suitable results have beenachieved with reflective object sensors available from OPTEK Technology,Inc. of Carrollton, Tex. that are mounted side-by-side on convergingoptical axes in a black plastic housing focusing on a small area anddepth of field and with or without dust protection and with or withoutfeatures for improved target resolution. Such sensor devices may includean infrared emitting diode and a NPN silicon phototransistor or aphotodarlington, and/or a red visible LED and a low light levelrejection (RBE) NPN silicon phototransistor to allow better contrastratio when detecting black marks on a white surface. Sensor types otherthan the retro-reflective variety may be used. The first optical sensor100 is preferably disposed in the housing 32 at a position that isradially offset from the drive axis A, and further so that its firstsensor field of view is oriented toward the cartridge bay 46.

As shown perhaps best in FIG. 10, the first optical sensor 100 may bepositioned so that its first sensor field of view is configured to imagethe intermediate annular region 76 of the membrane 88 when a supplementscartridge 64 is disposed for use in the cartridge bay 46. The markerzones 86 are located within the intermediate annular region 76, and willtherefore pass through the first sensor field of view when thesupplements cartridge 64 is rotated about the drive axis A. That is tosay, the first optical sensor 100 is responsive to the condition of themembrane 88 covering the marker cavities. If the membrane 88 over amarker zone 86 has not been punctured, then light from the transmitterelement of the first optical sensor 100 will be reflected by thereflective outer surface of the membrane 88 back to the receiver elementof the first optical sensor 100 thus registering an unopenedcorresponding serving chamber 84. Conversely, if the membrane 88 over amarker zone 86 has been ruptured, then light will not be reflected bythe reflective foil surface back to the first optical sensor 100 thusregistering an opened corresponding serving chamber 84. In the exampleof the supplements cartridge 64 of FIG. 12 being placed in the cartridgebay 46 and rotated at least 360° by the cartridge drive mechanism 94,the first optical sensor 100 would register all thirty-one servingchambers 84 as unopened. However, in the example of the supplementscartridge 64 of FIG. 13 placed in the cartridge bay 46 and rotated atleast 360°, the first optical sensor 100 would register six of thethirty-one serving chambers 84 as opened, and the remaining twenty-fiveserving chambers 84 unopened. The computer control system will also notethe angular or circumferential position(s) of the opened and unopenedserving chambers 84.

The dispensing machine 30 may further include a second optical sensor102 disposed in the housing 32, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 10. The secondoptical sensor 102 is shown in phantom in FIG. 10 disposed adjacent thefirst optical sensor 100, but other locations within the housing 32 maybe equally or even more convenient. For example, FIG. 2 shows the secondoptical sensor 102 nearly diametrically opposed (vis-à-vis the driveaxis A) to the first optical sensor 100. That is, FIG. 2 shows the firstoptical sensor 100 located in generally the 9 o'clock position and thesecond optical sensor 102 generally in the 3 o'clock position, howeverthese locations could be revered and could also be re-positioned asneeded to accommodate placement of other components within the housing32. A second sensor field of view of the second optical sensor 102, likethe first sensor field of view, may be radially offset from the driveaxis A and oriented toward the cartridge bay 46. However, the secondsensor field of view is configured to image the innermost annular region74 of a supplements cartridge 64 that is disposed for use in thecartridge bay 46. In this manner, the second optical sensor 102 isresponsive to the binary code indicia 90. In the example of a simple barcode like that shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, the annularly arranged binarycode indicia 90 is “read” by the second optical sensor 102 as thesupplements cartridge 64 is rotated at least 360° by the cartridge drivemechanism 94. Light from the transmitter element of the second opticalsensor 102 will be reflected by the reflective foil surface of themembrane 88 back to the receiver element of the second optical sensor102 in between the large blackened radial stripes, but not reflected asthe large blackened radial stripes transit the second optical field ofview. The reflection-interruption pattern can be translated into amachine-readable code that may, in turn, be associated with a look-uptable to indicate important attributes of the supplements cartridge 64,such as composition of the nutritional supplements S contained therein,recommended dosing, mixing directives, and the like. Also, thepreviously mentioned starter queue indicia may be configured to traversethe second sensor field of view. In the examples of FIGS. 12 and 13, thestarter queue indicia is integrated into the binary code indicia 90, sothat the position of at least one of the large blackened radial stripesaligns with the centerline of a lead serving chamber 84, in these casesthe serving chamber 84 located at the six o'clock position.

In FIGS. 3-6, the dispensing machine 30 is shown including a supplementextraction mechanism, generally indicated at 104. The supplementextraction mechanism 104 is preferably disposed in the housing 32, andis operative to open the serving chambers 84 one-at-a-time and also toempty the granulated nutritional supplement S therefrom. The supplementextraction mechanism 104 can take many different forms depending on theparticular configuration of the fracturable element of the servingchambers. The supplement extraction mechanism 104 can be manuallyactuated or configured as an automated, motor-driven feature of thedispensing machine 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the supplementextraction mechanism 104 is automated by a computer control system. Thesupplement extraction mechanism 104 shown in the figures includes alance 106 that is supported for linear movement in the housing 32. Thelance 106 has a pointed tip that is extendable into the cartridge bay46. The tip is configured to breach the membrane 88 in a regionoverlaying a lead serving chamber 84 of the supplements cartridge 64.

The lead serving chamber 84 is a transitory designation. For any newsupplements cartridge 64, i.e., one that is characterized by having nopreviously unopened serving chambers 84, the lead serving chamber 84 isdefined by the starter queue indicia. So, in the previously mentionedexample of FIG. 12, the lead serving chamber 84 is the serving chamber84 located at the six o'clock position. However, each time thesupplements cartridge 64 is indexed for use, the lead serving chamber 84will be set on an unopened serving chamber 84. In the illustratedexamples, the lead serving chamber 84 of any partially used supplementscartridge 64 will be the next adjacent serving chamber 84 to the lastopened serving chamber 84. And so, in the example of FIG. 13 where thesupplements cartridge 64 has been partially used, the lead servingchamber 84 will be the first unopened serving chamber 84 encountered ina clockwise direction from the series of six previously opened servingchambers 84. Of course, the computer control system is not limited toselecting a lead serving cartridge in this manner. For example, ifrotational balance is a concern, the computer control system mayintentionally select an unopened serving chamber 84 that isdiametrically opposed to a previously opened serving chamber 84 to bethe lead, somewhat akin to the crisscross pattern used to tighten lugnuts on an automobile wheel. Other selection patterns for the leadserving chamber 84 may also be implemented depending on the designer'schoice.

Working through the computer control system, as informed by the first100 and second 102 optical sensors, the cartridge drive mechanism 94automatically indexes the supplements cartridge 64 in the cartridge bay46 so that the lead serving chamber 84 is located directly opposite thetip of the lance 106, as shown in FIGS. 3-7. The supplement extractionmechanism 104 is placed within the housing 32 so that the lead servingchamber 84 will always be at the lowest possible elevation, which in theexemplary embodiment will appear as a six o'clock position if thesupplements cartridge 64 is imagined as a clock face and when viewedfrom the vantage of an ordinary user as in FIG. 1. That is to say,because the supplements cartridge 64 is supported at a forwardly tippedangle (drive axis A) within the cartridge bay 46, there will always below elevation region and a high elevation region. The low elevationregion of the supplements cartridge 64, which appears in FIGS. 3 and 7as the far left side of the supplements cartridge 64, will alwayscontain the lead serving cartridge 84 (i.e., when the supplementscartridge 64 is not rotating.)

A solenoid motor 108 is operatively connected to the lance 106 andnormally holds the lance 106 is a retracted condition as shown in FIGS.3 and 4. When energized, the solenoid motor 108 thrusts the lance 106forward, i.e., to the left as viewed in FIGS. 4-6, so that its tipruptures the portion of the membrane 88 covering the lead servingchamber 84. In FIG. 5, the lance 106 is shown in an extended, orthrusted, position. The pointed tip of the lance 106 neatly tears themembrane 88 shoving it forwardly so that the tip enters into the cavityof the lead serving chamber 84. Nutritional supplements S in the leadserving chamber 84 begin to flow out through the newly formed breach inthe membrane 88. FIG. 6 depicts a moment in time shortly following thatof FIG. 5 where the lance 106 is withdrawn back to its retractedcondition by the solenoid motor 108 and/or a return spring associatedtherewith. In FIG. 6, the nutritional supplements S are shown drainingprofusely through the gaping puncture hole. By this action of the lance106, nutritional supplements S are extracted from the lead servingchamber 84 in the supplements cartridge 64.

In the provided examples, the supplement extraction mechanism 104further includes a spur 110. The spur 110 is supported for linearmovement in the housing 32, adjacent the lance 106. However, in thisembodiment, the spur thrusts at an upwardly skewed angle whereas thelance 106 moves in a substantially horizontal path. Both spur 110 andlance 106 move in their respective paths but generally within a commonvertical plane that passes through the radial centerline of the leadserving chamber 84 and also through the coincident axes A, B. Thesolenoid motor 108 operatively interconnect connects both the lance 106and the spur 110 so that the spur 110 is actuated simultaneously withthe lance 106. This operative connection can take many different forms.In the illustrated embodiment, the spur 110 includes a cam follower thatis carried in a cam slot in the lance 106. As perhaps best shown inFIGS. 5 and 6, when the solenoid motor 108 is energized, a tip of thespur 110 is forcefully extended in an upwardly forward trajectory intothe cartridge bay 46 so that it punctures the portion of membrane 88that overlays the marker zone 86 associated with the lead servingchamber 84. In other words, the marker zone 86 is physically altered,i.e., mutilated, by the spur 110 concurrently upon extracting thenutritional supplements S from the lead serving chamber 84.

The supplement extraction mechanism 104 may be fitted with a buttress112 disposed in the housing 32 adjacent the lead serving chamber 84 of asupplements cartridge 64 in the cartridge bay 46. The function of thebuttress 112 is to provide a reinforcing backrest or stop against thecombined thrusting forces of the lance 106 and spur 110. The buttress112 may be either a static feature or a dynamic feature controlled bythe computer control system. In the illustrated examples provided inFIGS. 3-7, the buttress 112 is disposed opposite the lance 106 and isconfigured to engage the sidewalls 80 of the lead serving chamber 84, ontop of the peripheral flange 68. In one embodiment, the buttress 112 issupported for linear movement toward and away from the peripheral flange68 of the frame 66, such as in a sliding tray that enables the buttress112 to be pushed into a backstopping position for when the lance 106 andspur 110 are thrust out.

In this example, when the lance 106 and spur 110 return to theirretracted positions (FIG. 6), the buttress 112 preferably remains indirect pressing contact with the supplements cartridge 64 so that avibrator unit 114, operatively associated with the buttress 112, can beenergized to impart mechanical vibrations to the lead serving chamber84. These mechanical vibrations are graphically illustrated in FIG. 6.The vibrator unit 114 may be any commercially available type including,for example, the type used in cellular telephones or restaurant pagers.When selectively energized, the vibrating unit 114 transmits vibrationsthrough the abutting buttress 112 into the lead serving chamber 84,which facilities complete drainage of the nutritional supplements Sthrough the puncture opening in the membrane 88 so that substantiallyall of the contents are extracted. Naturally, many other techniques maybe employed to encourage rapid and full drainage of the nutritionalsupplements S from the lead serving chamber 84 after it has been opened,such as a mechanical tapping on top of the lead serving chamber, rapidmicro-reciprocating or shaking movements of the output shaft 96,mechanical vibrations through the output shaft 96, ultrasonic activity,etc.

As shown in FIG. 7, a mixing cup, generally indicated at 116, isconfigured to rest in the cup bay 56 of the housing 32 and directlybelow the lead serving chamber 84. When nutritional supplements S areextracted from the lead serving chamber 84 (FIGS. 5-6), the dry powdermaterial falls like sand into the awaiting mixing cup 116. In oneembodiment, the mixing cup 116 has a closed base 118 and generallycylindrical sides 120 terminating in an open mouth. The sides 120 or themixing cup 116 may be at least partially transparent so that a user cansee as the nutritional supplements S fall onto the base 118. In thismanner, an interior region of the mixing cup 116 is configured toreceive by gravity fall the granulated nutritional supplement S drainedfrom the lead serving chamber 84.

Continuing still with FIG. 7, the water tank 50 is shown having anoutlet 122. The water level 52 in the water tank 50 is elevated abovethe outlet 122 to establish a natural head of water pressure at theoutlet. The value of the head pressure will of course change with thequantity of water in the tank 50. A conduit 124 extends from the outlet122 to an exit end 126. The exit end 126 is ported to the cup bay 56,and more specifically located so that water emanating from the exit end126 will confidently land inside the mixing cup 116. In the preferredembodiment, the exit end 126 of the conduit 124 is disposed verticallybelow the water level 52 so that the head of water pressure will enablewater to flow by gravity from the water tank 50 into the mixing cup 116.In alternative embodiments, water movement into the mixing cup 116 isaccomplished by line pressure (as in the case of a tankless,hard-plumbed dispensing machine 30) or by means of a pump containedwithin the housing 32. A flow control valve 128 is operativelyassociated with the conduit 124. The flow control valve 128 isselectively actuated via the computer control system to interrupt theflow of water through the conduit 124 so that a predetermined, meteredamount of water is transferred into the mixing cup 116 where it mixeswith the nutritional supplements S. The computer control system can beprogrammed to transfer water into the mixing cup 116 either beforeactuation of the supplements extraction mechanism 104, concurrently withactuation of the supplements extraction mechanism 104, or afteractuation of the supplements extraction mechanism 104. FIG. 7 depictsthe latter case, where the nutritional supplements S are fixed emptiedfrom the lead serving chamber 84 prior to water being added. Both thetiming and quantity of water addition to the mixing cup 116 arecontrolled via the flow control valve 128. In one contemplatedembodiment, the binary code indicia 90 contains information that is usedby the computer control system to determine the timing and quantity ofwater addition to the mixing cup 116 via manipulation of the flowcontrol valve 128.

FIG. 15 is an exemplary chart describing the effect water level 52 hason the flow rate of water through the conduit 124. Generally stated, thehigher the water level 52 in the tank 50, the greater the flow rate ofwater through the conduit 124. In the above-described embodiment wherethe computer control system regulates the quantity of water admitted tothe mixing cup 116 via actuation of the flow control valve 128, accuratewater quantity is a goal. Determining the quantity of water deliveredinto the mixing cup 116 can be accomplished in a variety of ways,including by direct flow rate measurements, metering pumps, and thelike. In the present invention, one effective technique to assure anaccurate quantity of water is mixed with the nutritional supplements Sin the mixing cup 11 is to correlate the predicted flow rate through theconduit 124 based on a measurement of the water level 52. Such a measurecan be made in many ways, including optically and through float-typepotentiometers.

In the illustrated embodiment, wherein the water tank 50 is of thegravity fed type, an accurate and reliable real-time measurement ofwater level 52 is achieved by a fluid level monitor 130 that isoperatively associated with the water tank 50. The fluid level monitor130 includes a capacitive sensor, composed of a pair of opposingmetallic plates, preferably fabricated from a copper material. Themetallic plates are each isolated from water contained in the water tank50. These metallic plates are electrically connected to the computercontrol system, which is configured to monitor the capacitancetherebetween. The capacitance measurement has been found to changemore-or-less proportionally with changes in the level 52 of water in thewater tank 50. Through empirical testing, the capacitance measurementcan be recorded for numerous water levels 52 together with theempirically derived flow rate, as shown in FIG. 15. This information canthen be stored in a look-up table that is accessible by the computercontrol system of the dispensing device 30. Alternatively, thecapacitance to flow rate relationship may be expressed as a mathematicalformula rather than an empirically-derived data set. The water level 52in the water tank 50 establishes a head pressure of water in the conduit124. Naturally, the head pressure changes in direct proportion tochanges in the water level 52 in the water tank 50. That is, the higherthe water level 52, the greater the head pressure and the faster thewater in the conduit 124 is motivated to flow. And conversely, the lowerthe water level 52, the lesser the head pressure and the slower thewater in the conduit 124 is motivated to flow.

In operation, when there is a demand for water to be added to the mixingcup 116, the computer control system takes note of the instantaneouscapacitance measurement via the fluid level monitor 130, and thenassociates the reported capacitance with a flow rate value in thelook-up table. The time duration over which the flow control valve 128must be opened is easily computed by dividing the desired quantity ofwater (either a preprogrammed amount or indicated in the binary codeindicia 90) by the indicated flow rate as per the look-up table. Itshould be mentioned here also that the binary code indicia 90 mayindicate that the contents from multiple serving chambers 84 should bemixed together at the same time in the mixing cup 116. In these cases,the computer control system will direct the actions of the cartridgedrive mechanism 94, supplements extraction mechanism 104 and flowcontrol valve 128 according to a predetermined sequence so that all ofthe desired nutritional supplements S and the proper quantity of waterare combined in the mixing cup 116. Accordingly, the present inventiontakes advantage of the relationship of the water level 52 in a gravityfeed tank 50 with the reported real-time measurements from thecapacitive sensor 130 so as to keep the volume of water shots into themixing cup 116 consistent, or if not consistent then to meet apredetermined specification, despite variations in the water flow ratefrom the exit end 126 of the conduit 124 caused by variations in waterlevel 52/head pressure.

Preferably, the water and nutritional supplements S are mixed togetherthoroughly, or at least adequately, prior to a user ingesting them bydrinking (or giving to another to be ingested by drinking). Mixing ofthe water and nutritional supplements S can be accomplished in a varietyof ways, either in an intermediate mixing chamber (not shown) upstreamof the mixing cup 116, or after the ingredients have been added to themixing cup 116. In the illustrated embodiment, mixing takes placedirectly in the mixing cup 116, and hence the name given. It iscontemplated that mixing of the water and nutritional supplements S inthe mixing cup 116 can also be accomplished in a variety of ways, suchas by shaking or spinning the mixing cup 116, by inserting a mixing wandor beater into the mixing cup 116 to agitate the contents.

In the illustrated examples, the dispensing machine 30 is provided witha cup drive system that is disposed in, or otherwise associated with,the cup bay 56 of the housing 32. The cup drive system is configured tosupport the mixing cup and also to mix the water and nutritionalsupplements S in the mixing cup 116 by either moderately high speedrotation in one continuous direction, or back-and-forth rotation asdepicted in FIG. 8. The cup drive system is perhaps best shown in FIGS.7-9 including a rotary platen 132 upon which the mixing cup 116 isnormally seated. The rotary platen 132 is supported in suitable bearingor bushings for rotation about a mixing axis C. The cup drive systemincludes a mixing motor 134 (FIG. 2). The mixing motor 134 isoperatively connected to the rotary platen 132 through a central shaft136 that lies along the mixing axis C. The rotary platen 132 may beinclined relative to horizontal, so that its mixing axis C generallyintersects the drive axis A at a skewed, i.e., non-perpendicular, angle.That is, in one embodiment the rotary platen 132 is inclined backwardlyinto the cup bay 56, away from the user, to protect the user fromcollateral spillage during a rotary mix cycle. The backward tilt thusimparted to the mixing cup 116 better positions the mixing cup 116 toreceive a stream of water from the exit end 126 of the conduit 124.Furthermore, the angled rotational configuration of the mixing cup 116enhances the process of mixing water and powdered nutritionalsupplements S into solution, as will be elaborated on further below.

In order to hold the mixing cup 116 securely in position on the rotaryplaten 132 during mixing, the base 118 of the mixing cup 116 may befitted with a first magnetic coupling 138. As one option, the firstmagnetic coupling 138 may comprise a ferrous plate. A rubberized surfacetreatment 140 can be applied as a covering over at least a portion ofthe sides 120 and the base 118 of the mixing cup 116. The rubberizedsurface treatment 140 encapsulates the ferrous plate, thus protecting itfrom oxidation. The rotary platen 132 includes a second magneticcoupling configured to attract the first magnetic coupling 138 in thebase 118 of the mixing cup 116. The second magnetic coupling is shown inthe figures as being integrated into the material composition of therotary platen 132. That is, the material body of the rotary platen 132is fabricated from a suitably magnetic substance. A drain hole 142 isformed in the cup bay 56 to direct any accidentally spilled liquidsunderneath the housing 32 and away from the mixing motor 134.

A user can easily decouple the mixing cup 116 from the rotary platen 132by lifting with sufficient force to overcome the magnetic attraction, asshown in FIG. 9. To further enhance the desired secure hold of themixing cup 116 on the rotary platen 132, the base 118 of the mixing cup116 can be designed with a particular formed shape, and the rotaryplaten 132 designed with a negatively formed shape that generallycompliments the formed shape of the mixing cup 116 base. Theseconforming shapes, therefore, enable a snug nested relationship betweenthe bottom of the mixing cup 116 and the rotary platen 132. Of course,there are many other ways to establish a secure placement of the mixingcup on the rotary platen 132 during mixing, including for example sometype of clip arrangement that mechanically (rather than magnetically)locks the base 118 to the rotary platen 132.

The mixing action can be optionally enhanced by including at least one,and preferably several agitator elements inside the mixing cup 116. Theagitator can of course take many forms, but in the illustrated exampleof FIGS. 8 and 9 comprise a plurality of paddles 144, 146 disposed inthe interior region of the mixing cup 116. The paddles are here showncomprising a pair of tall paddle 144 and a pair of short paddles 146.These paddles 144, 146 act somewhat like a cement mixer as the mixingcup 116 turns to fold the contained liquid slurry over upon itself overand over again. The substantial turbulence thus created will rapidlyhomogenize the dry granulated nutritional supplements S and the watertogether into a drinkable concoction.

The previously referenced computer control system may be integratedinto, or otherwise operatively associated with, a circuit board 148 asdepicted in FIGS. 2 and 7. The computer control system includes anon-transitory computer readable medium coded with instructions andexecuted by a processor to perform the steps and other automatedfunctions of this invention. The graphic display screen may beincorporated directly into the circuit board 148, or otherwiseelectrically connected. Similarly, the several motors and controlleddevices in the system are electrically connected in some way through thecomputer control system. That is to say, the computer control systemoperatively interconnects the mixing motor 134 and the flow controlvalve 128 and the buttress 112 and the vibrator unit 114 and thesolenoid motor 108 and the cartridge motor 94 and the graphic userinterface 54 so that all function in the manners described herein.Furthermore, the dispensing machine 30 may further include at least oneselector button 150 that is operatively connected to the computercontrol system. The selector button 150 can be integrated with, orsurrounded by, or at least proximally associated with, an indicatorlight 152 that is also operatively connected to the computer controlsystem. The indicator light 152 cooperates with the display screen 54 toinform the user of the operating status and condition of the dispensingmachine 30 as will be described presently.

FIGS. 16-23A graphically describe one set of exemplary operatingprotocols for the dispensing machine 30. Beginning with FIG. 16, a PowerOn step 1601 is activated by a user depressing the selector button 150.This activates the computer control system, which initially querieswhether a Process Error Flag was set in a previous operating instanceand stored in the computer readable medium, at decision juncture 1602.If “no”, i.e., there is no electronically stored record of a ProcessError Flag having been previously set, then the display screen 54 maypresent an image like that shown for example in FIG. 16A. In this image,a graphical representation of the supplements cartridge 64 is shown onthe display 54, and the indicator light 152 is energized to flash in ablue color, for example, to indicate that the supplements cartridge 64,i.e., “disk,” is in the process of being read by the first 100 andsecond 102 optical sensors. The system queries whether the supplementscartridge 64 is “valid” at decision juncture 1603. If the disk (i.e.,supplements cartridge 64) is recognized by the system as valid, variousinformation details about the sensed condition and nature of thesupplements cartridge 64 will be displayed on the display screen 54,such as type (e.g., vitamin or energy), number and location of unopenedserving chambers 84, etc. The process continues from connector 1604 toFIG. 17. Before proceeding to FIG. 17, however, it is noteworthy tomention certain other steps in the process that appear also in FIG. 16.Returning to decision juncture 1602, if the system detects a record of aProcess Error Flag having been previously set, then the display screen54 may present an image like that shown for example in FIG. 16D. Theindicator light 152 (i.e., “halo”) is energized to flash in a red color,while various important messages appear on the screen 54. Optional LEDlights disposed inside the cartridge chamber 46 may be made to flash.The user is instructed via these messages to remove the supplementscartridge 64, which requires the loading door 44 (i.e., lid) to beopened whereupon the system executes a Lid Open Process 1605 describedmore fully in FIG. 18. Before proceeding to FIG. 18, however, it isnoteworthy to mention certain other steps in the process that appearalso in FIG. 16. Returning to decision juncture 1603, the Valid Diskquery, if the supplements cartridge 64 is not recognized by the systemas valid, a Disk Present query will be initiated at decision block 1606.If, via the optical sensors 100, 102 the computer control systemdetermines that a supplements cartridge 64 is not present, then thedisplay screen 54 may present an image like that shown for example inFIG. 16B which graphically reinforces the absence of a supplementscartridge in the cartridge bay 46. The indicator light 152 (i.e.,“halo”) is energized to emit a steady red color, which requires theloading door 44 to be opened whereupon the system executes a Lid OpenProcess 1605 described in FIG. 18. On the other hand, if the computercontrol system determines that a supplements cartridge 64 is present,then the display screen 54 may present an image like that shown forexample in FIG. 16C which graphically instruct the user that there is anerror and the supplements cartridge 64 needs to be removed from thecartridge bay 46. Optional LED lights disposed inside the cartridgechamber 46 may be made to flash. The indicator light 152 flashes red,the loading door 44 is then required to be opened whereupon the systemexecutes a Lid Open Process 1605 described in FIG. 18.

FIG. 17 is a continuation of the exemplary operating protocols for thedispensing machine 30, extending from the mutual (pentagonal) connector1604, which is only reached after a supplements cartridge 64 has beenconfirmed valid and its relevant attributes “read” by the opticalsensors 100, 102. During this reading stage, optional LED lightsdisposed inside the cartridge chamber 46 may be made to flash, adding aninteresting visual effect to the user experience. At this stage, thedisplay screen 54 may present an image like that shown for example inFIG. 17A, where the number and location of available serving chambers 84are distinguished from the previously opened serving chambers 84 (ifany). The indicator light 152 lights green, signaling the user that thedispensing machine 30 is ready to mix a dose of nutritional supplementsS with water in the mixing cup 116. When the user is ready, they depressthe selector button 150 at step 1701, whereupon the optional LED lightsin the cartridge chamber 46 may be made to steady illuminate. Thedisplay screen 54 may change to present an image showing that the leadserving chamber 84 is in the process of formulating, like that shown inFIG. 17B. The indicator light 152 flashes blue, and the system proceedto a Dispensing Process subroutine 1702 which is described below inconnection with FIG. 21. Before proceeding to the Dispensing Processsubroutine and FIG. 21, however, it is noteworthy to mention certainother steps in the process that follow the Dispensing Process subroutineas shown in FIG. 17. The display screen 54 may change, as in FIG. 17C,to present an image showing there is now one less serving chamber 84available (i.e., remaining unopened) and that the supplements cartridge64 has been indexed so that a new lead serving chamber is ready to beformulated. The system thus re-sets itself to the process stage justafter the (pentagonal) connector 1604, capable of repeated use the nexttime the user wants to formulate another serving.

FIG. 18 shows the Lid Open subroutine 1605 as appears twice in FIG. 16.The Lid Open process 1605 is executed whenever the loading door 44 isopened. All processes are stopped save the optional LED chamber lightsare turned steady on. The display screen 54 may present an image likethat shown in FIG. 18A. After the loading door 44 is closed, theindicator light 152 turns steady blue, the LED chamber lights are turnedoff, and the Lid Open process 1605 terminates with a Return action asshown at action block 1801. The Return action block 1801 returns to themain system process immediately following Power On 1601 as shown in FIG.16.

FIGS. 19 and 20 describe an optional self-clearing process that thedispensing machine 30 can be made to execute. The Clean Process routine1901 fills the mixing cup 116 with a set quantity of water, suggestedhere as two ounces. The display screen 54 may present an image like thatshown in FIG. 19A during this step, while the indicator light 152flashes blue. As shown in FIG. 20, the Clean Process 1901 is activatedby pressing and holding the selector button 150 in excess of a setperiod of time, suggested here as five seconds.

The Dispense Process 1702 is described in FIG. 21. As mentioned above inconnection with FIG. 17, the Dispense Process 1702 is part of theformulating sequence. At the commencement of this stage, the supplementscartridge 64 is indexed so that a lead serving chamber 84 is in positionfor extraction, the buttress 112 (i.e., tray lock arm) is set, and thenthe supplements extraction mechanism 104 is actuated to pierce themembrane 88 covering both the lead serving chamber 84 and its associatedmarker zone 86. FIG. 21 next suggests a vibrating process slightlydifferent than that described above in connection with the vibrator unit114. Rather, in FIG. 21, the stepper motor of the cartridge drivemechanism 94 is rapidly actuated in a back-and-forth manner with thebuttress 112 disengaged. Of course, there are many alternative ways toencourage full drainage of the nutritional supplements S from the leadserving chamber 84, with those described representing but a few of thepossibilities. The Dispense Process 1702 is terminated after thecomputer control system decrements the number of remaining availableserving chambers 84.

FIG. 22 is a Low Water Warning Process routine 2201 that is activatedwhen the fluid level monitor 130 indicates the water level 52 in thewater tank 50 is below a preset threshold. The display screen 54 maypresent an LOW WATER message like that shown in FIG. 22A until the fluidlevel monitor 130 ceases to indicate that the water level 52 is belowthe preset threshold. If the water level 52 in the water tank 50 fallsdangerously lower than the preset threshold for the Low Water WarningProcess routine 2201, a Low Water Error Process routine 2301 will beactivated as shown in FIG. 23. During the Low Water Error Process 2301,the selector button 150 (i.e., “Go” button) is disabled, and the displayscreen 54 may present both an ERROR and LOW WATER messages, while theindicator light 152 flashes red, like that shown in FIG. 23A. Once thefluid level monitor 130 ceases to indicate that the water level 52 isbelow the preset threshold needed to activate the Low Water ErrorProcess 2301, the selector button 150 is re-enabled for use.

To summarize, the method for dispensing nutritional supplements S maycomprise the steps of: storing a quantity of water in a water tank 50 ina dispensing machine, the quantity of water in the water tank 50 havingan upper exposed surface establishing a water level, inserting asupplements cartridge 64 into a cartridge bay 46 in the dispensingmachine, the supplements cartridge 64 having a plurality of sealedserving chambers 84 arranged in an outermost annular region 72, storinga generally equal volume and composition of granulated nutritionalsupplement S in each serving chamber 84, supporting the supplementscartridge 64 in the cartridge bay 46 for rotation about a drive axis A,fixing the drive axis A at a forward-tilting angle relative tohorizontal, and rotating the supplements cartridge 64 in the cartridgebay 46 about the drive axis A. The rotating step includes initiallysurveying the supplements cartridge 64 to determine at least one of thenumber and location of previously unopened serving chambers 84 in theplurality of serving chambers 84. The initially surveying step includesoptically scanning for previously punctured marker cavities with a firstoptical sensor 100 having a first sensor field of view configured toimage an intermediate annular region 76 of the supplements cartridge 64,and optically scanning a binary code with a second optical sensor 102having a second sensor field of view configured to image an innermostannular region 74 of the supplements cartridge 64. The method furtherincludes displaying at least one of the number and location of thepreviously unopened serving chambers 84 on a display screen 54. Therotating step includes initially surveying the supplements cartridge 64to determine the compositional nature of the granulated nutritionalsupplements S. Displaying the compositional nature of the granulatednutritional supplements S on the display screen. Indexing thesupplements cartridge 64 so that an unopened serving chamber 84 islocated at a lead one of the serving chambers 84, the lead one of theserving chambers 84 comprising the lowest elevation serving chamber 84.The indexing step includes selecting an unopened serving chamber 84 thatis directly adjacent to a previously opened serving chamber 84 to be thelead serving chamber 84. The indexing step includes energizing a steppermotor. Positioning a mixing cup 116 under the lead serving chamber 84,the positioning step includes supporting the mixing cup 116 on a rotaryplaten 132, tilting the rotary platen 132 so that the mixing up isinclined to the rear, magnetically attaching the mixing cup 116 to therotary platen 132. Transferring the granulated nutritional supplements Sfrom the lead serving chamber 84 into the mixing cup 116 below, thetransferring step includes breaching a membrane 88 covering the leadserving chamber 84 with a lance 106, and buttressing (with a buttress112) the lead serving chamber 84. The transferring step includesvibrating the lead serving chamber 84, and puncturing the membrane 88covering a lead marker cavity with a spur 110. Draining a controlledquantity of water from the water tank 50 into the mixing cup 116, thedraining step includes manipulating a flow control valve between openand closed positions, the manipulating step includes adjusting the timeduration between open and closed positions of the flow control valve indirect response to the water level in the water tank 50. And agitatingthe combined water and granulated nutritional supplements S in themixing cup 116, the agitating step includes rotating the mixing cup 116,the agitating step includes inter-folding the water and granulatednutritional supplements S with at least one paddle inside the mixing cup116.

As previously mentioned, the starter queue indicia must be properlyaligned to one of the serving chambers 84 so that a brand newsupplements cartridge 64 can be oriented in the dispensing machine 30with a lead serving chamber 84 lined up properly with the lance 106 andspur 110. The starter queue indicia is, preferably, imprinted on themembrane 88. Therefore, when affixing the membrane 88 to the frame 66,care must be taken to position the membrane 88 so that its state queueindicia aligns with a select one of the serving chambers 84. FIG. 14offers an exemplary method and apparatus for aligning the membrane 88 tothe frame 66. Here, a supplements cartridge 64 is shown in cross-sectionwith its membrane 88 separated as in an exploded view. The supplementscartridge 64 is disposed in a filling station 154, which is shown in onevery simplified exemplary form as a supporting device upon with theback-side of the marker cavities rest. The supplements cartridge 64 isprovided with a small, nib-like locator alignment pin 156 extendingaxially from a rearward face of the marker cavity that is associatedwith the serving cartridge 84 to be designed as the lead by the starterqueue indicia. The filling station 154 has a corresponding member, shownhere in the form of a socket 158 designed to register with or seat thealignment pin 156. In this way, the supplements cartridge 64 is easilypolarized with respect to the filling station 154.

The filling station 154 can be used as a convenient platform to loadnutritional supplements S into the serving chambers 84, such as with theaid of a manifold delivery system fed by a hopper containing bulknutritional supplements S (not shown). After the serving chambers 84 arefilled with the desired quantities of nutritional supplements S, themembrane 88 is affixed to the frame 66 by the aforementioned adhesive orother suitable means. Before attaching the membrane 88, it will havebeen pre-printed with the starter queue indicia. The membrane 88 isplaced in position on the frame 66 mindful of the lead serving chamberorientation, which is reliably identifiable because the supplementscartridge 64 has been consistently oriented with respect to the fillingstation 154 vis the alignment pin 156 and socket 158 features. Thefilling process can be either manual or automated. When manual, it maybe helpful to include a visual aide or indicator on the membrane to helpthe assembly worker properly align the membrane 88 relative to thefilling station 154. When automated, a supply of preprinted membranes 88will be loaded into a dispenser at exactly the correct orientationrelative to the filling station 154 so that each is applied in thecorrect manner.

A method for filling a multi-chambered supplements cartridge 64 with aquantity of granulated nutritional supplements S may be stated asfollows. A generally annual supplements cartridge 64 is provided havinga central axis B. The supplements cartridge 64 includes a plurality ofsealed serving chambers 84 arranged in an annular array about thecentral axis B. Each serving chamber 84 has a radial centerline thatintersects the central axis B. A locator feature is formed into thesupplements cartridge 64 in relation to the respective centerline of oneof the serving chambers 84. The forming step includes forming analignment pin 156. The supplements cartridge 64 is loaded in a fillingstation 154. The loading step includes registering the locator featureof the supplements cartridge 64 with a corresponding member of thefilling station 154. The registering step includes seating the alignmentpin 156 in a socket 158. Each serving chamber 84 is then filled with agenerally equal volume and composition of granulated nutritionalsupplement S, which may be a vitamin, mineral, fiber, fatty acid,protein, amino acid, herbal medicine, bodybuilding supplement,pharmaceutical, or any other substance that is ingested for healthpurposes. A punctureable membrane 88 covers the supplements cartridge64. The membrane 88 has an interior hole 70 that is aligned with aninterior hole 70 in the supplements cartridge 64. A binary code indicia90 is printed on or otherwise associated with the membrane 88. The stepof printing a binary code indicia 90 includes orienting the binary codeindicia 90 in an annular pattern in an innermost annular region 74 ofthe membrane 88. At least one starter queue indicia is fixed on themembrane 88. The step of fixing at least one starter queue indiciaincludes orienting the starter queue indicia within the innermostannular region 74 of the membrane 88, or alternatively on some otherregion of the membrane 88 or supplements cartridge 64. The servingchambers 84 are covered with the membrane 88. The covering step includesadhesively attaching the membrane 88 to the supplements cartridge 64,and further includes aligning the starter queue indicia relative to thealignment pin 156.

The present invention provides a machine and methods for dispensingnutritional supplements S (as broadly defined herein), and alsomulti-serving cartridges 64 therefor that will mix into solutionpowder-form dietary supplements in measured doses with water to beconsumed by drinking. The invention enables users to supplement theirdietary needs or take medicinal substances in an easy to use andefficient manner with the high quality and pure form active ingredients.The health maintenance regimen enabled by this invention will enable alluses includes children, elderly and those having difficulties in takingpills and tablets to realize the added benefits of a dietary supplementand/or to more easily ingest therapeutic substances. The disclosedsystem is also suitable for use in providing dietary supplements and/orpharmaceuticals for pets.

The foregoing invention has been described in accordance with therelevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather thanlimiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosedembodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art and fallwithin the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A granulated nutritional supplement dispensingmachine, said machine comprising: a generally annular supplementscartridge centered about a central axis, said supplements cartridgeincluding a plurality of serving chambers, a volume of granulatednutritional supplement disposed in each said serving chamber, a housing,said housing including a cartridge bay configured to receive saidsupplements cartridge for rotation about said central axis, a supplementextraction mechanism associated with said cartridge bay, said supplementextraction mechanism operative to open said serving chambersone-at-a-time and empty the granulated nutritional supplement therefrom,a cartridge drive mechanism for rotating said supplements cartridgeabout said central axis within said cartridge bay, and a computercontrol system operatively connected to said cartridge drive mechanism,said computer control system including a non-transitory computerreadable medium coded with instructions and executed by a processor torotationally index said supplements cartridge in said cartridge bayabout said central axis until an unopened said serving chamber islocated directly adjacent said supplement extraction mechanism.
 2. Themachine of claim 1, further including a first optical sensor disposed insaid housing, said first optical sensor including a first sensor fieldof view oriented toward said cartridge bay and radially offset from saidcentral axis when said supplements cartridge is disposed in saidcartridge bay of said housing, said computer control system operativelyconnected to said first optical sensor to determine at least one of thenumber and location of previously unopened serving chambers in saidplurality of serving chambers.
 3. The machine of claim 2, whereinsupplements cartridge includes a membrane disposed in surface-to-surfacerelationship over said serving chambers, said membrane including atleast one starter queue indicia, said starter queue indicia beingspatially located relative to a select one of said serving chambers,said computer control system responsive to said starter queue indicia torotationally index said supplements cartridge so that the select one ofsaid serving chambers is located directly adjacent said supplementextraction mechanism upon the condition that all of said plurality ofsaid serving chambers are unopened.
 4. The machine of claim 1, whereinsaid cartridge motor comprises a stepper-motor, said cartridge drivemechanism further including a rotary output shaft extending into saidcartridge bay along a drive axis, said drive axis coinciding with saidcentral axis of said supplements cartridge when said supplementscartridge is disposed in said cartridge bay, said drive axis oriented atan forward-tilted angle relative to horizontal.
 5. A method fordispensing nutritional supplements, said method comprising the steps of:supporting a supplements cartridge for rotation in the cartridge bay ofa dispensing machine, the supplements cartridge having a plurality ofsealed serving chambers, storing a volume of granulated nutritionalsupplement in each serving chamber, each serving chamber including afracturable element configured to be forcefully ruptured in order toremove the granulated nutritional supplements sealed therein, androtating the supplements cartridge in the cartridge bay, said rotatingstep including initially surveying the supplements cartridge todetermine at least one of the number and location of previously unopenedserving chambers in the plurality of serving chambers.
 6. The method ofclaim 5, wherein said initially surveying step includes opticallyscanning for previously punctured marker cavities with an opticalsensor.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein said initially surveying stepincludes optically scanning a binary code with an optical sensor.
 8. Themethod of claim 5, further including displaying at least one of thenumber and location of the previously unopened serving chambers on adisplay screen.
 9. The method of claim 5, wherein said rotating stepincludes initially surveying the supplements cartridge to determine thecompositional nature of the granulated nutritional supplements, anddisplaying the compositional nature of the granulated nutritionalsupplements on a display screen.
 10. The method of claim 5, furtherincluding the step of rotationally indexing the supplements cartridge inthe cartridge bay about the central axis until an unopened servingchamber is located directly adjacent a lance and directly above a mixingcup.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein said indexing step includesselecting an unopened serving chamber that is directly adjacent to apreviously opened serving chamber.
 12. A granulated nutritionalsupplement dispensing machine, said machine comprising: a generallyannular supplements cartridge centered about a central axis, a housing,said housing including a cartridge bay configured to receive saidcartridge for rotation about said central axis, a supplement extractionmechanism associated with said cartridge bay, and wherein said centralaxis is oriented at an acute angle relative to horizontal.
 13. Themachine of claim 12, further including a cartridge drive mechanism forrotating said supplements cartridge about said central axis within saidcartridge bay, said cartridge drive mechanism including a rotary outputshaft extending into said cartridge bay along a drive axis, said driveaxis coinciding with said central axis of said supplements cartridgewhen said supplements cartridge is disposed in said cartridge bay ofsaid housing.
 14. The machine of claim 13, wherein said supplementscartridge has a disk-shaped frame centered about said central axis, saidframe including an outer peripheral flange, said frame including aplurality of serving chambers, a volume of granulated nutritionalsupplement disposed in each said serving chamber, a punctureablemembrane disposed in surface-to-surface relationship over said servingchambers, a spline cup affixed to said frame, said spline cup generallycentered over said interior hole, said spline cup including a pluralityof axially extending female splines.
 15. The machine of claim 14,wherein said output shaft includes a drive coupling configured tooperatively engage with said female splines in said spline cup of saidsupplements cartridge when disposed for use in said cartridge bay, saiddrive coupling including an annular shelf configured to support saidsupplements cartridge about said interior hole of said frame whendisposed for use in said cartridge bay.
 16. The machine of claim 13,further including a mixing cup disposed below said cartridge bay of saidhousing, said mixing cup supported by said housing along a backwardlyinclined mixing axis that generally intersects said drive axis at askewed angle.
 17. A granulated nutritional supplement dispensingmachine, said machine comprising: a housing, said housing including acartridge bay, a supplement extraction mechanism associated with saidcartridge bay, a cup bay formed in said housing, said cup bay disposedbelow said cartridge bay, a mixing cup, said mixing cup configured torest in said cup bay of said housing, a cup drive system disposed insaid cup bay of said housing, said cup drive system including a rotaryplaten, said rotary platen being rotatable about a mixing axis, saidrotary platen being inclined backwardly into said cup bay with saidmixing axis skewed at an acute rearward angle relative to horizontal.18. The machine of claim 17, wherein said mixing cup includes a firstmagnetic coupling, said rotary platen including a second magneticcoupling configured to attract said first magnetic coupling of saidmixing cup.
 19. The machine of claim 18, wherein said first magneticcoupling comprises a ferrous plate.
 20. The machine of claim 18, whereinsaid mixing cup includes a rubberized surface treatment covering atleast a portion of said first magnetic coupling.
 21. The machine ofclaim 17, further including a cartridge drive mechanism for rotatingsaid supplements cartridge about said central axis within said cartridgebay, said cartridge drive mechanism including a rotary output shaftextending into said cartridge bay along a drive axis, and wherein saidmixing axis generally intersects said drive axis at a skewed angle. 22.The machine of claim 17, wherein said mixing cup has a closed base andgenerally cylindrical sides terminating in an open mouth, said base ofsaid mixing cup having a formed shape, said rotary platen having anegatively formed shape generally complimentary to said formed shape ofsaid mixing cup base to enable a snug nested relationship therebetween.23. The machine of claim 17, wherein said mixing cup includes at leastone paddle disposed in an interior region of said mixing cup.
 24. Themachine of claim 17, wherein said cup drive system includes a mixingmotor, said mixing motor operatively connected to said rotary platenthrough a central shaft supported for rotation along said mixing axis.25. The machine of claim 17, wherein said housing includes a drain holeformed in said cup bay behind said rotary platen, said drain holeconfigured to direct liquid spillage underneath said housing.